IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/srbeha/v36y2019i3p289-300.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The limits of transparency: A systems theory view

Author

Listed:
  • Vladislav Valentinov
  • Gert Verschraegen
  • Kristof Van Assche

Abstract

The paper explores the implications of Ludwig von Bertalanffy's general systems theory for the current debates on the nature of organizational transparency as an element of good governance. If transparency implies the exchange of information, then it may be taken, at a metaphorical level, to constitute a dimension of metabolism theorized by Bertalanffy's open systems model. Yet, the model likewise lays bare some of the limits of transparency idea. Bertalanffy's work on the nature of emergent properties, his critique of the stimulus–response scheme, and his perspectivistic account of the systemic perception of the environment all point in the direction of the impossibility of full transparency. Later systems‐theoretic work on operational closure and self‐referentiality has reinforced and even radicalized these insights, which are shown to resonate with some of the key arguments in the contemporary economics, sociology of knowledge, and business ethics.

Suggested Citation

  • Vladislav Valentinov & Gert Verschraegen & Kristof Van Assche, 2019. "The limits of transparency: A systems theory view," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 36(3), pages 289-300, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:36:y:2019:i:3:p:289-300
    DOI: 10.1002/sres.2591
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2591
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1002/sres.2591?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Maren Gierlich-Joas & Thomas Hess & Rahild Neuburger, 2020. "More self-organization, more control—or even both? Inverse transparency as a digital leadership concept," Business Research, Springer;German Academic Association for Business Research, vol. 13(3), pages 921-947, November.
    2. Kristof Van Assche & Monica Gruezmacher & Raoul Beunen, 2022. "Why Governance Is Never Perfect: Co-Evolution in Environmental Policy and Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-7, August.
    3. Frank Ebinger & Bramwel Omondi, 2020. "Leveraging Digital Approaches for Transparency in Sustainable Supply Chains: A Conceptual Paper," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Jauernig, Johanna & Uhl, Matthias & Valentinov, Vladislav, 2021. "The ethics of corporate hypocrisy: An experimental approach," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 131.
    5. Steven E. Wallis, 2020. "Exceeding the limits: Commentary on “The limits of transparency”," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1), pages 170-173, January.
    6. Mary R. Brooks & Geraldine Knatz & Athanasios A. Pallis & Gordon Wilmsmeier, 2022. "Transparency in port governance: setting a research agenda," Journal of Shipping and Trade, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 1-20, December.
    7. Valentinov, Vladislav & Verschraegen, Gert & van Assche, Kristof, 2020. "On complexity and transparency: The limits of taxonomic ordering," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 37(1), pages 174-177.
    8. Vladislav Valentinov & Gert Verschraegen & Kristof van Assche, 2020. "On complexity and transparency: The limits of taxonomic ordering," Systems Research and Behavioral Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 37(1), pages 174-177, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:srbeha:v:36:y:2019:i:3:p:289-300. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/1092-7026 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.